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Glochidia of Lampsilis encapsulated on the gills of largemouth bass. Glochidia are parasites but they usually do no harm to the host. The glochidium clamps on, and the epithelial cells of the gill then migrate to form a capsule around it. This structure is often erroneously called a cyst, but technically cysts are structures made by a parasite, while capsules are made by a host.
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